Franco
Baresi, born in Travagliato (Brescia), arrived in Milan in the
summer of 1974 when he was only 14 years old. From that moment on
he wore the red-and-black shirt with pride and would earn one and
a half million lire (his first wage packet was only twenty
thousand lire- about seven pounds!). Playing for Milan he won,
lost, suffered and triumphed in Italy and all over the world. His
career was launched on the 23rd of April 1978, when he was
selected for the first team in a game against Verona, which they
went on to win 2-1. Once on the team, he was never pulled out,
and he soon became a pillar of strength. At the tender age 22
Baresi, nicknamed 'Piscinin' by his team mates, became captain
and earned the title of Golden Boy.

What
followed was his 'ticket to ride'. In twenty years he played in
716 official games for the first team: 470 in seria A, 61 in B,
97 in the Italian Cup, 50 in the Italian Championship, 19 in the
UEFA Cup, 6 in the European Supercup, 4 in the Intercontinental
Cup, 3 in the Mitropa Cup, 5 in the Italian Supercup and 1 in the
UEFA Playoffs.

He
played for the Italian national side 81 times, 31 as captain, and
scored only one goal against Russia (in Bari, 20th February 1988)
in a game which Italy won 4-1. He played for Italy in three World
Cups, winning the ultimate prize in Spain in 1982; in 94 they
lost against Brazil in a penalty shoot-out. His debut was on the
4th December 1982 (Italy-Romania 0-0) and his international
farewell came in Maribor on the 7th September 1994 in a 1-1 draw
against Slovenia. Alongside Beckenbauer and Scirea, he can be
considered the greatest sweeper in the history of football.

For
many years his brother Giuseppe played for Inter and was
therefore one of his greatest rivals. Franco, who has four
brothers and sisters, is married and has two children called
Edorado and Gianandrea.

After
hanging up his football boots, Baresi has become the
Vice-president of the club and is in charge of the youth team.
His colleagues in this job are also great ex-Milan players:
Angelo Cloumbo (his right hand man) and Mauro Tassotti, the
Primavera's trainer.

His
number 6 shirt is already a legend and it has been taken away
like Michael Jordan's shirt. At his final game in the autumn of
1997 a huge crowd of his followers and supporters had tears in
their eyes when he left the field after twenty years at Milan.

AC MILAN NEWS

THIS YEAR IT'S COMING HOME
TO WHERE IT BELONGS, WE WANT THE CUP!!, WE WANT THE CUP!!, WE
WANT THE CUP!!

FORZA AZZURRI!!

ONE MORE WARINING TO THE
REST OF THE WORLD, DON'T SLEEP ON THE AZZURRI, CUZ WE GOT OUR
EYEZ ON YOU